Missouri’s labor market continued to show signs of growth in March 2025, with an increase of 13,900 nonfarm payroll jobs statewide. Despite this job growth, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged up slightly to 3.8%, a one-tenth of a percentage point rise from February 2025. Compared to the same time last year, Missouri added 20,200 jobs, reflecting a resilient workforce and steady economic activity.
Job Gains Across Private and Government Sectors
According to the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, private industry employment rose by 12,600 jobs in March. Government employment also grew, adding 1,300 jobs, driven largely by increases in local government.
Key growth sectors for March 2025 include:
- Leisure and Hospitality: +5,800 jobs
- Education and Health Services: +1,800 jobs
- Trade, Transportation, and Utilities: +1,500 jobs
- Other Services: +1,500 jobs
- Financial Activities: +700 jobs
The goods-producing sector saw a modest gain of 1,600 jobs, all within mining, logging, and construction. However, some areas experienced declines, including professional and business services (-200 jobs) and information (-100 jobs).
Year-Over-Year Employment Trends
From March 2024 to March 2025, Missouri’s workforce expanded by 20,200 jobs. The most significant annual increases occurred in:
- Private Education and Health Services: +20,400 jobs
- Other Services: +2,600 jobs
- Financial Activities: +1,900 jobs
However, there were job losses over the year in key sectors like:
- Leisure and Hospitality: -4,200 jobs
- Professional and Business Services: -2,500 jobs
- Trade, Transportation, and Utilities: -1,800 jobs
- Manufacturing: -900 jobs
Government employment also rose by 7,500 jobs year-over-year, driven by growth in local and state government, even as federal government jobs declined.
Missouri’s Unemployment Rate Remains Below National Average
Missouri’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.8% in March 2025 but remains below the national average of 4.2%. This marks over nine consecutive years that Missouri’s unemployment rate has matched or fallen below the national level.
Other key labor statistics:
- Labor Force Participation Rate: 63.4% (vs. 62.5% national)
- Employment-Population Ratio: 60.9% (vs. 59.9% national)
- Number of Unemployed Missourians: 120,849 (up from 117,667 in February)
The not-seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 4.4%, slightly higher than March 2024’s rate of 3.9%.
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To view the full March 2025 Missouri Job Report, click here.
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